Mariah appears on the new cover of Observer Woman Magazine where she talks about the rave reviews for her role in last year’s film, Precious, insecurities, racism and plenty more.
Around the time that Kanye directed “Best I Ever Had,” it seemed like there was strife between your camp and Cudi’s camp because Kanye was so enamored of you while Cudi’s project was being worked on.
Drake: I wasn’t aware of that. Even so, I could understand. If Wayne were to be enamored—which is a great word—of another young artist, I would be like, “Damn, I’m here too!” But at the same time, it happens in more than one situation. It happens with ‘Ye, and I have a great relationship with Jay, and Jay’s got Wale and J. Cole, who’s one of my favorite dudes rapping right now. I’ve happened to have had more success. I made the most money, I have number-one records, those guys don’t have that shit. And it’s just facts, it’s not even my feelings or that I feel I’m more talented. That’s what the game is about, making great music that earns profit. When it comes to my relationship with the new dudes, I’m just excited for them. I get to sit back in a cool position and be like, “Yo, I’m excited to see you do it now because I know what it’s like, it’s gonna be so much fun for you…”
You and Wayne share an ability to cross over to diverse groups. What do you think it is that attracts polar-opposite groups to enjoy your music? Is it the Young Money affiliation alone?
Drake: I’m not talking about a thousand rounds in a chopper or payin’ 24, 23. It’s just delivery. One of my favorite rappers in the world, Jeezy, is somebody who loves my music. For him to not only co-sign what I’m doing but also to want to make music with me is crazy. Wayne had this conversation with me like, “You’re in a position where you could be a star. Not just a rapper star. A true star.” Me being biracial, me being from Canada but having success in the States, I have all these moments in my life where I’m jumping roof to roof. Black to white. Singing and rapping. My mom’s friends listen to my music and don’t feel weird about it. They feel weird listening to Wayne.
“I wanted to be grown kinda, I’ll be honest,” Brown admits. “My first album was like, ‘OK cool, everybody sees me as this little kid that just dances and sings,’ and I was like that’s good, but I wanna transition. With the [first] album it was just like, ‘OK I’m gonna record some hot songs and hopefully as long as I’m talkin’ about girls and as long as the girls like me that’s all it is.’ That’s where my head was at when I was 16; now it’s on a bigger scale, but at that time I really didn’t have a clue. I was just rollin with the punches. My next album after that one I was 18, and when anybody turns 18 they think they’re grown. So the ‘Take You Down’ record kinda gave me a chance to be a little more adult, be more sexual, talk about what guys my age do. I just wanted to get a better sense of me ‘cause you can hear it on the first album, but the sophomore album is where you gotta kinda prove yourself.